Japanese Favourites Take Over Vintage Asia New Menu

The popular Pan-Asian fine-dining restaurant, Vintage Asia, in JW Marriott Kolkata, has decided to look at a wide range of popular dishes from Japan, for their new menu, curated by Chef De Cuisine - Asian, Chef Tej &ndash B. Saru.

Nepal-born Chef Tej &ndash B. Saru, who recently joined as&nbspOriental Specialty Chef of Vintage Asia, has over two decades of experience and believes India's food palette is becoming more experimental with time. Hence it is time to move beyond sushi rolls and tempura, or sashimi, so far as Japanese food is concerned.  Miso soup, yakitori, edamame, ramen, and udon are just a few examples that will be appearing in various avatars on the menu.

Yakitori is a dish of bite-sized cuts of chicken grilled on a skewer. It makes use of every part of the chicken including heart, liver, and even chicken comb to avoid wastefulness, an important element of Japanese food culture, explained chef. Unlike other traditional Japanese foods, yakitori is being eaten since mid-17th century, as eating meat was largely taboo in Japan for some time.

Another Japanese dish that chef spoke highly about was the Black Miso (soybean and sesame seed chili paste). Miso ramen soup is flavored with soybean paste (miso), resulting in a thick, brown soup with a rich, complex flavor. The style originated in Hokkaido where the long cold winters spurred the need for a heartier type of ramen soup, but it has spread to the point where it can be found pretty much anywhere in Japan.

The new menu at Vintage Asia includes more than 20 variations of dim sums like Edamame & Truffle, Truffle & Gold &ndash Mushroom Nest, Siu Mai Chicken and Mostly Shiitake, Xiao Long Bao &ndash Pork Tea, Siu Mai Chicken and Mostly Shiitake, Lamb in Spicy Kefir Lime and Fresh Edamame, noodles and ramens such as &lsquoSesame Soba Noodle&lsquo, &lsquoYakiUdon Noodle&rsquo, and &lsquoSpicy Black Miso Ramen.

&ldquoThe revamped Asian menu will offer a m&eacutelange of progressive Asian selections, Asian infused handcrafted cocktails and contemporary desserts,&rdquo said Chef Tej-B, Saru. &ldquoOur emphasis will be on the interactive presentations and the selection of fresh ingredients that are handpicked from local and international markets and presented elegantly to retain and extend the unique flavors of Asian classics.&rdquo The menu includes a range of flavor profiles found in Asia from wok to soups, to grills, to appetizers, the main course and desserts.

Guests have to the option of pairing their food with a range of Asian inspired concoctions such as Asiatic Mary, Chilly Melon Plumtini, Tex Mex Chilly Margarita, Tokyo No 6, TukTuk Bangkok Mojito, The Last Mai Tai, etc.

What and where New Menu at Vintage Asia, JW Marriott Kolkata, 4A, J.B.S Haldane Avenue, Kolkata &ndash 700 105 ph 91 33 6633 0000 timing Lunch&ndash 1230pm - 300pm and dinner&ndash 700pm &ndash 1130pm. A meal for two to cost around Rs 4,000.